How Is The Bail Amount Set?
When a person is arrested and indicted for a criminal offense, he or she will stand before a judge and will be given a set bail amount. That amount depends on a variety of factors, not the least of which being the severity of the crime of which the suspect is accused. In many states, there is a bail schedule established which is used as a guideline to decide what bail amount is appropriate for the specific crime, but the judge has the final say in the matter. Even if both the defense attorney and the prosecutor recommend minimum bail, the judge can overrule their requests and set a higher amount. Additional Factors In Bail Considersation:Previous Convictions/Arrests If the suspect has never been in trouble with the law before, the judge may take this into consideration. For example, a suspect who has been arrested for burglary, but has no priors, may be released with the minimum bail. Ties to the Community Ties to the community can represent a variety of factors, such as employment, a
